Trail Notes: From the parking area follow the trail down to the kiosk. Follow the red blazed Wilson Trail until you reach dirt Upchurch Rd. Turn right for a few steps but then left to continue on the Wilson Trail. (If you miss this turn the road will eventually switchback down to the next junction.) In 0.2 miles, just before the trail begins to climb turn right onto an extension of Upchurch Rd. There is a nice spot to the left to view Wilson Creek. To the right is a switchback of the road. Bear to the left. In 0.8 miles bear right onto a footpath, cross an old utility swath and then turn left onto Big Wilson Creek Tr. Hike through Hemlocks and Rhododendron tunnels. Cross Wilson Creek in 0.5 miles from leaving the road. There is a small campsite here. Continue to follow the trail closest to the creek for a few more yards before turning right onto an old woods road. In 0.4 miles turn left at another junction. The trail forks in 0.5 miles. Bear to the right. You’ll cross Little Wilson Creek in another 0.4 miles. There is a large grassy campsite here. Turn right onto the Kabel Trail in 0.2 miles. The next 1.6 miles is nearly flat and the tread is in excellent shape. Note that in places the understory is mostly grass, an oddity for a Mid-Atlantic forest. This is evidence that for many years this was probably an open range for livestock. Turn left onto First Peak Trail. The knob is totally forested with only a large flat rock in the middle of the trail indicating that you crossed the high point. In 0.7 miles from the last trail junction reach a grassy area. Trails go off to both the left and right. Continue straight. In 0.7 miles reach Second Knob. Here you will begin to see views of the Mount Rogers area from a very different perspective. You’ll top Third Knob (even better views) before reaching the junction with Third Peak Trail in another 1.0 miles. You are now outside of the wilderness. Here the views really open up. Stay straight and descend on an eroded trail to the Scales, an area where cattle were weighed before taking that long one way ride to the city. You’ll fine latrines, camping and a piped stream here. Follow the fence to the south (left) and turn left onto the AT. The trail climbs gradually up the west flank of Stone Mountain through heath and fields of wildflowers.